Thursday March 22nd
In Lat. 48º 02' Long. 64º 46' At four P.M. had in all sails but double reef topsails, foresails, jib, and spencer. Saw the barque to the windward and ahead about four miles running in the night with a light wind. About ten, set spanker. Blowed very hard all day from SW. Passed the barque by two. By four saw another ship on the other tack. Looked like a brig. Had single reef topsails. The Capt. thought it was the brig Whitler who sailed about the same time we did. By this time we were within twenty miles of the mainland. At dark some of the men saw the land. After dusk the wind moderated. Put the ship over. Wore ship. Went SE by S. Before morning the wind hauled more W.
Friday March 23rd
In Lat. 47º 57' Long. 64º 39'. Commenced with light breeze from the W and fair weather. Both of our companions out of sight. Probably ahead being favored with a light breeze. Well this is discouraging. A light breeze one day and a perfect gale the next. When are we to be favored with a fair breeze. We shall never get round Cape Horn. When we have a breeze it is light. Tide against us about two knots. All sail set and going only four knots. Saw some sea fowl today resembling the dipper. In the eve there was a great parade of the Patagonia rangers under Capt. Dryer. They made a very grotesque appearance which caused much amusement. Calm pretty much all night. Tacked ship at 12 and ran WNW.
Saturday March 24th
In Lat. 48º 11’ Long. 64º 10’. Commenced calm and pleasant. The first cry was land ho from the man at the mast head. How pleasant that sound fell upon the ear, and it is the pleasantest sight in the world to anyone that has not been used to being to sea so long. All hands were eager to see the land of the living once more. It put one in mind of the days of Columbus. By ten land could be seen plainly from the deck, and by twelve land to appearance ten miles extent could plainly be seen. The high part first seen was Mount Stevedore. The nearest where the breakers could be seen breaking on shore was Cape Blanco, further south Cape Desire. The land looked wild and barren. The sandy and rocky shore could plainly be seen. The nearest land probably was eight to ten miles in distance. We remained in sight of land till about two and then tacked ship and ran ENE going only one or two knots.
Sunday the 25th
In Lat. 48º 34' Long. 65º 14’. Calm all night. The morning was beautiful. The sun rose clear and with all its splendor. Not a ripple could be seen except when a gooney or sea hen lit to catch the crumbs that were thrown over from our large looling craft. If the spring or blue bird could be heard warbling their notes, nothing could exceed the loveliness of the morning. All hands were busily engaged in cleaning for the week, and some went so far as to put on white coats and gloves, fancy scarfs and pins. Yes, it reminded one of the many pleasant Sunday mornings in the spring of the year at home. My, it reminded me of days that could not be recalled when youth climbed the hill and rambled in the woods of his native town picking berries and watching the squirrels springing from stump to stump. Days that youth alone only appreciate its loveliness.
This morning Mr Bradbury, who is in mess nine, complained to the Capt. of the abuses of his mess, that they stole his bread, and directed all their obscene remarks to him, and hectored him night and day. Poor man. He is frightened at every gust of wind and eats two men's rations. He will learn something by the time he gets back again.
About ten a breeze sprang up from the NW. Set studding sails. By night we had a good wholesale breeze.
Saw a schooner bound N, steering NE across our bow about two miles off. Saw another astern. Looked as though she had lost her topmast. Bound round round the Horn probably. Lost sight of both towards night. Clouds began to gather, and at ten it commenced raining. Rained all night. At dark, wind hauled NE and blew pretty fresh. Took in all light sails and top gallant sails. How pleasant to be once more driving along eight knots on our course. We have now been fifteen days in making eight degrees of latitude. Weather very cold and disagreeable. All bundled up in coats and mittens. Not cutting cold, but blustering chilly.
Monday March 26th
In Lat. 51º 13' Long. 66º 08’. Commenced stormy wind ENE. Looked cold and blowy. Feared that we was going to have another Southwester. Set all drawing sails. Blew steady from E and rained till about four P.M., when it looked as though it would clear away. Starlight in the eve. Wind hauled SSE.
Tuesday the 27th
Commenced calm and cloudy. A little breeze from the WNW. Cloudy. Well, here we are within a days sail of the Cape. Not very cold. All sails set. In Lat. 52º 24 Long. 65º 27. If the wind is fair we shall go through the Straits of La Maire tomorrow. A hemaphrodite brig bound round round the Horn probably about five miles off on lee beam. How variable is the weather. One hour it seems that we should not be more than a day or two going round and the next as though it would take us a month. Some say It will take us 120 days more to California.
At night we were within 125 miles of the Straits of La Maire. Commenced blowing hard from the SW. Tacked ship and ran SE by S.
Wednesday March 28th
In Lat. 53º 20' Long. 64º 48'. Commenced with strong breeze from SW. The Capt. said that he should not attempt to go through the Straits until the wind was fair at noon. The wind hauled to the W at noon within seventy five miles of the Straits.
Running ESE. Towards night all hands were looking anxiously for land. Wind still W. Steering S by E. At 11 o'clock rather squally. At 12 came on deck expecting to find everything right, but found it to be anything but agreeable. Wind blowing hard and squally. The Capt. on deck with his spy glass expecting to see land. He gave off orders to tack ship as he did not want to get too near land. We were then under double reef topsails, steering NW. At half past three wore ship and ran S by E. The clouds looked cold and stormy. I kept on deck expecting to see land close by at daybreak. Day dawned and with it.
Next week: Cape Horn